The Good Stuff

We have been incredibly busy these past few weeks. 

The good stuff around Girasole Farm...

Tomato seeds and Sunflower seeds have been started and growing well in the green house. 

 A few weeks ago Caveman built a couple of planters for me out of an old 55 gallon drum that we had hanging around, and yesterday I planted seeds in them.

 I planted Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, and Oregano, along with Carrots and Radishes. 

 When we added trees to the Orchard, I got some Blueberry bushes too.

Eventually they will be planted out in the orchard as well, but for now I will keep them in a container until they are a little bigger. 

They even have some small blooms.

The Summer garden area has been plowed up

The soil will need to be worked up a few more times and some compost/mulch added before planting time. 

The field is green and has been mowed. 

Soon enough it will be brown from the Summer heat. 

 The Peonies are happy, and doing exceptionally well this year. 

 and one more thing, something you probably wouldn't expect me to post a picture of....

 Caveman has been working on this Shelby Cobra car for about 3 years, and finally it is completed. 

He is waiting for a CHP inspection and then file the DMV paperwork. 

He built it from scratch! It was a kit car from Factory Five. 

I'm excited too, and looking forward to a road trip together. 

I also had the pleasure of having my Cousin Candy, and Cousin Aletha,  each come for a visit. 
It was fun having family here with us, and we had a wonderful time. 

The sun has continued to shine for us, although the few days Candy was here we did have some rain. 
During her visit we took a trip into town and had a visit at 
Mary's Store. 

That about sums it up for now. 

On Saturday Beth and I are heading to the High Hand Nursery in Loomis for a class on irrigation. 


Enjoy the good stuff.

 The Girasole Lady

Orchard Blossoms

Plum Tree Blossoms

The trees in the orchard are beautifully blooming. 

The trees are getting bigger and bigger, and providing more and more fruit each passing year. 

I can't tell you how much we really enjoy going outside and picking the fruits we have grown. 

Truly, there is nothing better than its' sweetness right from the tree and warm from the sun.

Pink Peach Tree Blossoms

 Red Pomegranate

Asian Pear Bud

We'll be working in the Orchard tomorrow, replacing two dead Cherry trees with a Bartlett Pear and a Persimmon tree. We've tried twice to grow Cherry trees and both times the trees have not made it.
Once again, we are having spectacular weather, and will be enjoying the 70 degree sunshine for the next few days.

I'll be putting some seeds starts in the Greenhouse this weekend as well.

Happy Sunshine.

The Girasole Lady

Random

RANDOM- it's what I'm feeling right now.
Apparently I'm not able to focus on just one thing.
I love blogging, and I love reading other blogs. It's inspiring, interesting, and fun.
Several of the blogs I follow focus on particular things, like farming, gardening, quilting, sewing, photography, decorating, painting, and.... I think you get the picture.
Me... I'm all over the place. In the beginning Girasole Farm was meant to focus on farming, particularly Community Supported Agriculture. I soon realized I couldn't just put that out as the only thing I do, because... well, it just wouldn't be me. Sure, it's a big part of my life, but certainly not all.
I love farming and gardening, but I also love about a gazillion other things.

 2011 SUMMER VEGGIE GARDEN

 For a LONG time I have been reading about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, I first heard about this paint at Miss Mustard Seed blog. When I went to Roses and Rust Vintage Fair last month, I happened upon a booth actually demonstrating the paint. I was so excited! I was even more excited to learn that a wonderful gal, Melony, carried the Chalk Paint in her booth, Well Worn, located in Chico at 8th & Main Antiques.              

Yes indeed, I hurried myself right on over there to get the paint and wax. I have the perfect dresser for this paint. I can hardly wait to get started.

I'm also planning on using some to make a Farmer's Market sign. This project idea comes from 

Donna at Funky Junk Interiors. 

She also has a great tutorial on making "Old" Signs

and How To Build Your Own Barnwood Shutters

I'm ready...

I made a Journal this week...

I'm a Stampin UP!  Demonstrator. I'm fairly new at stamping and paper crafting. I hosted my first Stampin UP! workshop last November, and have been hooked ever since. If you're interested and/or would like to learn more about Stampin UP!  please feel free to contact me. It's really fun and I'd be happy to share.

 Then there's two horses and a horse barn. 

Riding Arena (not too much of that going on these days)

The Eucalyptus trees were not intentionally planted here by the arena, they just volunteered. 

They even picked a perfect spot! 

The Egg Basket is filling in nicely. 

Succulents are interesting...   

The orchard is coming along too.

I fertilized all the trees right before the last rain. 

  PEARS

NECTARINES

PLUMS

MEYER LEMONS

    POMEGRANATES

ORANGES

There will be Apples and Cherries too. 

The Tomatoes are getting ready in the Green House to be put into the Summer garden. 

                   This is where we plant the Summer garden. 

The sun is setting, which means it's time to head on out to the barn and feed the horses. 

              

Who knows what random things will happen this week.

1. Sign?

2. Apron?

The Girasole Lady

p.s. I almost forgot.... I've been searching for a full size apron pattern that I like and is functional, but have been unsuccessful. 

At 4 o'clock this morning, I wasn't able to sleep, but came up with a great idea in my head. Jumped out of bed at 5AM to sketch it out in paper. I'm going to try my hardest to get going on that this week as well. 

Random.....

February Stuff

February has been more like Spring than Winter. We have been enjoying sunny days with temperatures in the 60's to almost 70 degrees.

We planted some new trees in the orchard. Early last year we had a bad freeze and it claimed two Cherry trees and a Plum tree, so we had to replace them. We planted a Western Red Bud tree, that I had picked up last Fall, and three Lilac bushes. I love Lilacs. I'm planning on spending time in the small garden this weekend, just cleaning and puttering around. I have four Peony bushes that need to be put in the ground.

The trees in the orchard are starting to blossom out. 

Week before last, February 15th, was Kristina's Birthday. 

(a decorated Hershey Bar) 

When Kristina was born her Gma Silva gave me Daffodils. I kept them and planted them in the yard at our little home.

When we sold our little home I dug them up and brought them here to Girasole Farm.

A true gift that keeps giving.

 Every year in February they start to bloom right around Kristina's Birthday.

I'm not a traditional vase person, I prefer to use old jars or pitchers. This jar comes from a collection of old jars that I got from my Grammy years ago. When this jar sets in the sun it turns a pale shade of pink.

Last weekend I picked up The New Sunset Western Garden Book at Costco. 

A great deal for $20.99!!!

 

Hopefully, I will get my camera outside and take some pictures so I can share what's been happening.

The Girasole Lady